title: High-sensitivity analysis of buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, buprenorphine glucuronide, and norbuprenorphine glucuronide in plasma and urine by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
abstract: A new method using ultra-fast liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of buprenorphine and the metabolites norbuprenorphine, buprenorphine-3β-glucuronide, and norbuprenorphine-3β-glucuronide in plasma and urine. Sample handling, sample preparation and solid-phase extraction procedures were optimized for maximum analyte recovery. All four analytes of interest were quantified by positive ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry after solid-phase microextraction. The lower limits of quantification in plasma were 1pg/mL for buprenorphine and buprenorphine glucuronide, and 10pg/mL for norbuprenorphine and norbuprenorphine glucuronide. The lower limits of quantitation in urine were 10pg/mL for buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine and their glucuronides. Overall extraction recoveries ranged from 68-100% in both matrices. Interassay precision and accuracy was within 10% for all four analytes in plasma and within 15% in urine. The method was applicable to pharmacokinetic studies of low-dose buprenorphine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Clinical and Translational Research, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Regina
authors.forename: Evan D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kharasch
mesh_terms: D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002047:Buprenorphine; C043585:norbuprenorphine
keywords: Buprenorphine; Glucuronide; Mass spectrometry; Norbuprenorphine